Inner Demons

Chapter 154: Ghost Emperor

Although Li Yunxin could easily dispatch a super-first-class Jianghu master, in terms of pure martial arts techniques and skills, he might not be better than a third-rate martial artist. This was because cultivators tempered their bodies and spiritual souls, making their reaction speed, strength, and physical fortitude far beyond what a secular person could imagine. Therefore, a brilliant strike from a super-first-class master would likely appear as nothing more than an old woman brandishing a sword in his eyes, easily countered.

Even so, he could tell that the four escorts from the Wanshun Escort Agency were no ordinary fighters.

They were almost all at the level of second-rate masters.

And previously, Qiao Duanhong, the head of Qiao Family's Hongfu Escort Agency, was the only second-rate master in the Qiao Family—and he had just barely reached that level.

This Wanshun Escort Agency was interesting.

While he was thinking this, the four had already pounced. Their coordination was excellent, sealing off all his escape routes—no matter how he dodged or counterattacked, he would have to pay a price; there was no way he could retreat unscathed.

Li Yunxin could even see that even after these four had pounced, the escort who had spoken, the woman who called herself San-niang, and the other servants had not let down their guard. They were waiting—in case this person was truly a master, they could either pounce as well or retreat in an instant.

But the next moment, there were short, suppressed gasps.

However, the gasps quickly died out.

The four people who had rushed at him passed straight through his body and collided with each other. Dazed and utterly shocked, after trading a few punches and kicks, they rolled away in a rather undignified yet highly effective manner, looking at Li Yunxin as if they had seen a ghost—Where he had just been standing, only the half-eaten watermelon was left floating in mid-air—

And then they watched as another bite was taken out of it.

This situation was not part of any of their calculations. The escorts, San-niang, and servants who had been ready to provide support were all momentarily dumbfounded...

This was the first time in their lives that they had truly experienced such a supernatural event—despite the recent string of strange occurrences in Weicheng.

After a moment of shock, Li Yunxin's figure reappeared.

"I really do like eating melons, and I really do want to know what this disaster is that you spoke of, madam. And I'm also really, really bored," Li Yunxin sighed. "Don't run. You can't escape."

The last sentence stopped the madam and the escorts who were about to flee.

They were Jianghu people, after all, and a bit bolder than most. Seeing that this person didn't look ferocious and, despite possessing supernatural powers, hadn't attacked first... it seemed there was still room for negotiation.

That San-niang took a deep breath. She pinched her own fingertip inside her sleeve—it wasn't a dream. This made her even more terrified—her teeth chattering slightly, she asked, "Sir... who exactly are you?"

"I'm just an ordinary disciple of the Divine Dragon Cult. I want to know what disaster you were talking about." Li Yunxin finally finished the watermelon, looked around, and muttered, "This municipal planning..." before tossing the rind on the ground.

The group from the escort agency immediately stared warily at the watermelon rind, studying it for a good while.

Seeing that he said no more and just stared at her, San-niang finally reconsidered and said, "If San-niang tells you everything, will you let us go, sir? We will pretend we saw nothing today, and in the future..."

"Yes, yes, hurry up and talk."

San-niang hesitated again and shot a meaningful look at the escort beside her.

The escort understood. He knew San-niang meant, "I'll tell him for now. But this person's intentions are surely not so simple. You all get ready. If he makes any sudden moves, we must not just sit and wait for death—"

The escort grasped the meaning, and the fingers behind his back bent and made several quick hand signals. The other dozen or so people also suppressed the fear in their hearts—knowing this might be the strangest and most difficult obstacle of their lives.

But they had to find a way to get through it.

That San-niang began to speak.

"Sir, you can probably tell that we are not ordinary escorts. In fact, this humble woman was once the daughter of Qian Wudu of the Qian Family Fort's Copper Coin Darts. I am the third child, hence the name San-niang. But later, the Qian Family Fort offended Eagle King Sun Dingheng and was wiped out twenty years ago. Only myself and a few loyal servants escaped."

As she said this, she subtly observed the young man's expression.

His expression did not change.

Qian Sanniang's heart sank slightly. It was impossible for anyone in the Jianghu not to have heard of the battle where Eagle King Fort destroyed Qian Family Fort. Nor should they be unaware of the storm of blood that would be stirred up in the Jianghu if a descendant of the Qian Family Fort were to reappear.

But... he remained completely unfazed.

This meant he already knew all this.

Who had hired such an expert? After twenty years?

San-niang gritted her teeth and continued, "After that, I hid my identity and married Wan Tongda of this Wanshun Escort Agency. All these years, I have never been involved in Jianghu matters. Some of the people with me are descendants of the Qian family, and some are loyal servants who fled with me. Over the years, they have gradually joined the escort agency—the head of the agency does not know."

"This time, with my husband in trouble, I am also anxious, but I know he cannot be saved. I am also aware of what you said before, sir. This is a poisonous scheme by those large escort agencies and the Yu Family—all for the sake of an annexation. Among the people who went to the Li Kingdom is a former loyal servant of my Qian Family Fort who is skilled in the art of carrier pigeons. This time, the news was also sent out by him at the cost of his life."

"So you are right, sir—we indeed only wanted to swindle some money from that Young Master Yu. Tonight, when the money arrives, we will leave immediately and never return to Weicheng." She looked at Li Yunxin cautiously. "Of course, this grudge must be remembered, but whether it can be avenged—I am a weak woman, and I have a child who is not yet grown. I know my own limits."

After saying all this, she just looked at Li Yunxin.

But she saw Li Yunxin wait for a moment, then blink. "Huh? Friend, I was asking what disaster you were talking about—not about your family affairs?"

As these words came out, Qian Sanniang and the escort exchanged a look—this person was difficult to deal with.

What San-niang had just said was half-truth, half-lie.

And this person didn't seem to have believed it completely. So he was pressing again about some "disaster"—this was an attempt to get information from the side.

Qian Sanniang took a slight step back and said in a deep voice, "As for that disaster, the carrier pigeon message said that there seemed to be a battle between strange beasts on the border of the Li Kingdom, a battle so fierce it shook the heavens and earth, destroying three villages and towns in a row—this was before the convoy was detained, last month. Later, it was heard that the strange beast went south, entered Ye Kingdom territory, and destroyed another eleven villages and towns. The person who sent the message said... it's possible... that it might continue into the Qing Kingdom."

Li Yunxin was stunned for a moment, then frowned. "Strange beasts?"

Qian Sanniang thought for a moment, then said with some hesitation, "The carrier pigeon message... said—it was heard from the disaster-stricken refugees... that they were... demons."

After saying this, she waited for the young man opposite her to burst out laughing.

He would definitely think she was being evasive. After all, such a thing was too incredible. She herself had said on the street earlier that a disaster was coming. And she was indeed talking about this. But it wasn't as this young man had said, that she firmly believed it and shouted it out to vent her anger.

In fact... it was precisely because she didn't believe it that she wished it would really happen!

Who knew that after hearing this, the young man actually fell silent. Before, his expression had been indifferent, as if he was just asking about something amusing—Qian Sanniang knew this was because the other party's martial arts were incredibly high and he possessed strange abilities, so he was playing with them like a cat toying with a mouse.

But now his silence... was not a good sign.

The other party was verifying her words—his so-called desire to know about the "disaster" must have been a pretext.

Perhaps... he was still stalling them, waiting for pursuers, for reinforcements?!

Or perhaps... the Yu Family's scheme this time... was because they had discovered her identity—it was entirely aimed at them?!

At this thought, fine beads of cold sweat broke out on Qian Sanniang's body—it seemed they had truly reached a dead end!

She turned her head and glanced at the escort beside her.

After so many years together, they had long understood each other's intentions.

The escort saw the determination in Qian Sanniang's eyes—after fleeing for so long, hiding their identities for so long, to now be trapped in such a situation. Even if... even if...

Even if they died this time... they could not die silently like rats!

The escort took a deep breath and gritted his teeth.

Then the fingers hidden behind his back moved rapidly, issuing several commands.

The alley was instantly filled with killing intent!!

Just then, Li Yunxin looked up and smiled at Qian Sanniang. "I understand. Alright, thank you very much for today."

Then, with a flicker, his figure vanished from the spot.

He's going to make his move!!

"Thank your granny!!" the escort roared, his pair of eagle claws striking at the spot where Li Yunxin had been standing. Behind him, Qian Sanniang's hands crossed, and a sky full of Copper Coin Darts blanketed every possible corner where the man might be hiding!!

The other dozen or so servants all threw their lives on the line, with expressions of heroic sacrifice, they summoned all their internal energy and desperately lunged at one spot!

...

Li Yunxin stood on the roof on the other side of the alley, looking at these people. He sighed helplessly.

He really just wanted to ask what that "disaster" meant...

But now, he had been gone from that alley for a quarter of an hour—

Those dozen or so people from the Wanshun Escort Agency were still cautiously retreating towards the other end of the alley, on high alert.

"Whatever makes you happy," he muttered, then flew straight towards the north of the city.

...

...

But whether it was the people from the Wanshun Escort Agency or Li Yunxin... their shock and anxiety at this moment—whatever it was about—was probably no match for...

The accomplished Master Yue Yunzi in the Weicheng residence of the Shangqing Elixir Cauldron Sect.

Last night, he had taken out a talisman, unsure if he should use it. After weighing his options, he had put it away.

But an hour later, he received another piece of news.

This news completely dispelled any thoughts he had of seeking help from the Grotto-heaven sects.

A Daoist Orthodoxy and a Sword Sect... a Profound Realm Grotto-heaven sect master, three True Realm School leaders...

Had fallen in the Li Kingdom.

Not even their souls could be preserved.

And all this was because of a mortal. A former, extraordinary mortal.

That "Heavenly Emperor" of the Li Kingdom.

This emperor of the Li Kingdom had died nineteen days ago—on that day, Li Yunxin had conjured a river full of sour soup on Weicheng's Changmen Street.

The Daoist Orthodoxy and Sword Sect learned of this news eighteen days ago. The Li Kingdom's court had concealed the emperor's death. As of last night, they still refused to announce the cause of death, and it was said the body was still laid out in the Golden Hall. Nineteen imperial princes had led troops into the capital. Four princes were already dead within the palace walls. The crown prince intended to ascend the throne early, but the ministers in the court became his biggest obstacle—

In short, this largest empire in the known world had descended into chaos.

But what was worse...

For some unknown reason, the two Yama Kings, Black and White, had failed to collect the Heavenly Emperor's soul in time.

With the power of will from the several hundred million citizens of the Li Kingdom—within three hours of his death, the Heavenly Emperor's soul had achieved the body of a Ghost Emperor.

Three hours—his cultivation broke through the peak of the Profound Realm, heading straight for the realm of Supreme Indifference!

Fortunately, as per tradition, upon learning of a monarch's death, the Daoist Orthodoxy and Sword Sect would dispatch high-level cultivators of the True Realm or above to that country to deal with any crisis—the crisis of a monarch's soul being instantly empowered by the people's will if the Black and White Yama Kings failed to collect it in time.

And the one who had died this time was the Heavenly Emperor of the Li Kingdom. It was precisely because they knew the Li Kingdom had a large population that the five cultivators dispatched were: Daoist Orthodoxy's Luofu Grotto-Heaven Master, Abstruse Profound Realm cultivator Quan Yangzi (Note 1); Sword Sect's Soaring Sky Grotto-Heaven Master, Great Accomplishment Profound Realm cultivator Wei Liaozi. Daoist Orthodoxy's Circumference Heaven Numinous Treasure Sect Leader, Great Achievement Master Realm cultivator Tong Zhouzi; Daoist Orthodoxy's Cloud Crane Sect Leader, Accomplished Master Realm cultivator Ling Guzi; Sword Sect's Flying Sword Sect Leader, Harmonious Integration Master Realm cultivator Zhi Youzi.

Two Profound Realm cultivators, three True Realm cultivators. Such a lineup could destroy a country within a month. However...

Only Wei Liaozi, the master of the Sword Sect's Soaring Sky Grotto-Heaven, survived—his cultivation completely destroyed.

No one could have predicted that something would actually go wrong.

That was—the emperor of the Li Kingdom!

How could the Black and White Yama Kings sit by and watch such a drastic change happen?!

By the time the five cultivators realized the situation had changed, the Li Kingdom emperor's soul had already, with the support of the will of hundreds of millions of people, achieved the body of a Ghost Emperor and fled a thousand miles away. The five immediately used their respective powers to give chase.

Although the emperor of the Li Kingdom was immensely powerful, he was still a secular person. After death, even though his soul instantly became a Ghost Emperor, his mind was still unclear, not as astute and worldly as when he was alive. Therefore, at this time, even though they knew the Ghost Emperor's cultivation was approaching that of the Two Saints, the five cultivators still pursued it—once it escaped, went somewhere, and after some time regained its senses and learned some Daoist Arts, it would truly become untamable!

However, even in his muddled state, the Ghost Emperor, relying solely on his extremely powerful instincts, managed to kill four cultivators and destroy Wei Liaozi's Snow Mountain Qi Sea.

After this battle, the Ghost Emperor was also severely wounded, his mind even more unclear—he unexpectedly crashed into the territory of the Ye Kingdom...

The Heaven-Connecting Sea, where the Dragon's Son, Yazi, resided.

The second son of the Dragon, Yazi, was bloodthirsty and brutal by nature, a great demon of the Profound Realm. The waters under his jurisdiction covered the Ye Kingdom and spanned half of the Li Kingdom. When the Ghost Emperor barged into his territory, unable to communicate or give way, and ran into a hot-tempered fiend like Yazi, they immediately started fighting.

It was a pity that this Ghost Emperor was already at the end of his strength, only to run into a powerful Profound Realm great demon.

It was tragic that although Yazi was dominant in the world, this Ghost Emperor was a peerless powerhouse, the likes of which had not been seen in a thousand years.

After a fierce battle, the Ghost Emperor's whereabouts were unknown, and the Dragon's Son Yazi had also vanished—it seemed both were severely injured, and fearing that a third party would reap the benefits, they both fled.

This... was what Qian Sanniang had referred to as the "battle of strange beasts."

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Note 1: Three stages of True Realm: from low to high, Accomplished Master Realm, Great Achievement Master Realm, Harmonious Integration Master Realm.

Note 2: Three stages of Profound Realm: from low to high, Abstruse Profound Realm, Great Accomplishment Profound Realm, Broad Life Profound Realm. (To be continued.)

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